Weekend Wonders

This weekend was wonderful! Babysitting went extremely well; Amy and John went to St. G-izzle from 5 p.m. on Friday to 5 p.m. on Saturday. All the while I watched the kids and we had probably the best time ever. Woke up Saturday morning, got soccer pictures taken, went to the library, went to the Art Festival, had lunch, came home and watched The Great Mouse Detective, went to the dollar store where they got toys and we played with those for a little while and then played 9 card! What a fun day! That night B-rad and I watched...Minority Report and talked and did other stuff but I forget everything so yeah. Saturday was rockin'.

Sunday was great as well. Got up, got ready (the picture is of me when I actually look presentable, i.e. on Church Days!), had my daily morning oatmeal :), went to B-rad's around 11, we read scriptures together (Alma 47), we read some more Chronicles of Narnia, talked, had a snack (toast w/ jam, a small peach, I am doing so good!), made out, hahahahahaha I just had to throw that in there, went to church at 1 p.m. B-rad spoke. It was good, but he was the first speaker and afterwards he came and sat by me and we didn't pay attention to anything the other speakers said because we were too busy discussing baby names. He approves of Grace, Jane, and Claire, but I really want an Elle too but he doesn't like it so it will be a middle name. We pretty much agree on boys' names except he likes the name Tim and I am sorry, no child of mine will be named Tim. Anyway, you can see how this conversation was extremely distracting to our listening of the Sacrament talks.

So then after church he taught a mission prep class and I took a MUCH NEEDED nap. :-D Then at 6 he picked me up for the fireside but we were both hungry by then so we decided to nix that idea (okay, we have gone to all of them so far, give us some slack!) and we just went to his house and had dinner. I did pretty well! Then we played a diverting game of ping pong where he used his left hand against me and I almost won. It's on now. I am going to become a better ping pong player than him. Then we read more and then talked and made out and then his brother wanted to watch Chronicles of Narnia and then B-rad dropped me off at home and gosh, he is just so amazing because I can really talk to him about everything and what is better is that he actually asks me about it so yeah and he wants to meet J lol like really badly which I think is funny! And anyway he also said that he thinks Dec. would be better than Spring Break and I do, too, because we still have FOUR WHOLE MONTHS before December. Lalalala so that was this weekend and I love B-rad :-D

Back-to-School Blues

Well, okay, so I'm not really blue. I think this was actually the first time I was able to tear myself away from Home without having a mini-breakdown upon the time of departure; however, I am a little sad this amazing summer has come to a close and the school year and everything else that entails is upon us.
But before all that school nonsense, I'll share a few highlights of the trip home:
- Wicked in S.F. at the Orpheum was amazing; being there with parents and almost all the kids was beyond words.
- Going through the archives of my childhood and all the momentos: ticket stubs to plays and movies and talent shows, hundreds of birthday and thank you cards, receipts, report cards, schoolwork and more schoolwork, tons of old clothes....It was so fun! It made me feel like before I left for college I had such an enriched, great life, and I like I was a really good person. I used to have so many deep connections with people. What happened to that?
- Visiting Mrs. V! :-D
- Going on walks with my mom in the mornings.
- Seeing all my brothers and sisters and S. Stier and J Sava and everyone in my home ward of course!

It was a fun, but short, trip home.

--Gear Shift---

Got back late Sunday night to C City. Brady came over :) I gave him a present and he gave me a SUPER warm soft cuddly amazing blanket that I love. We talked and stuff, it was really good. Then Monday we were able to hang out again! Went to FHE, went hot tubbing, Monday was a great day. Tuesday was good cause I got to see Comedy of Errors with Amy at the Shakespeare festival, it was SO FUNNY! I would probably recommend that one out of all the ones I saw this season.

Anyway, the big thing I wanted to get to was last night. Brady got off work and I went over there around 9:30. Two big things happened. Are you READY for this! Well, we were downstairs talking and I knew he had something to tell me. He started going on about how amazing he feels like I am and then he said he loved me! So yeah, that big L word.
Then, I finally shared all the unwonderfulness about me and he took everything really great about the ED and everything is really open and we talked about it for a long time and I told him if he ever wants to ask me anything about it that he should and I gave him a short history and yeah. It was good...so far.

Now for a Happy One: B-Rad is the Man

As has been previously discussed, B-rad is simply amazing. I have already pontificated upon our many fun adventures, however I would like to deliver somewhat of an explanation about who he is as a person.

B-rad grew up in C. City. In high school, he was in the top choir, and his senior year he got voted as the Best Bass singer. He has a brother, Hank, and a sister, Tiffany (who is married). B-rad works at G-House as a server. His dad is an attorney, his mom is an elementary school teacher.

B-rad went to Hamburg, Germany on his mish. He has told me that previous to his mish, he was a very negative person, and that changed a lot while on his mission. He now is extremely positive, and he says that positivity and happiness is the most attractive feature about a girl to him. He is a pro at table tennis, and his paddle cost him like $150! So I want to be good at it now, too. But he hasn't played with me yet, and I don't blame him cause I'm awful, but seriously, I want to get good!
B-rad is extremely confident. He makes a lot of hand gestures while talking about something he is passionate about, and I have started to aquire the habit. B-rad laughs at my humor and this is one of the most amazing things because I don't think any guy I've dated has really done that, so I love it and him laughing makes me laugh.

B-rad treats me like I'm the most amazing thing that's ever happened to him. And it is a good feeling. He sees me like I wish I could see myself, he sees me in a way that reminds me of how God sees me.
Monday night he said to me, "Today was such a good day for X, X, and X reasons. And also at Wal-Mart there was a lady in a wheelchair that was putting the groceries on the counter, and I helped her because I thought, 'If it were Diana, she would help her.' So I helped her and it made me happy."
Really, do better compliments exist?

B-rad leaves me notes on my car while I am at work. He takes me home when I am tired. (I.e. last night, lol...this whole dating thing can catch up to a girl!)
Last night he said that he felt like the Lord had led him to me and he hasn't really felt like this before. I agreed.

B-rad tells me what's what when I need to hear it.

He is a super hot smokin man!

Let's Be Honest

Yesterday was not the greatest in terms of the ED. And I am getting a cold sore. :(
This is not the first time a small Herpes symplex II (or is it I?) symptom has presented itself upon my beautifully formed lips (lol) in consequence to my anticipation to visiting Home. After briefly discussing the matter with B-rad, he says sometimes he feels stress even when he is looking forward to something happy and exciting. Exciting stress? I dunno.

Consciously, I am EXTREMELY excited to visit Home. Not only is it one of the most beautiful places in the country, not only am I going to have the pleasure of gracing my presence to my amazing BROTHA which I haven't been able to do for nearly a year, not only will I be able to hug and snuggle for hours upon end with my beautiful hot smokin gorgeous lovely caring sisters, not only will Cat and Dyl tell me everything that is going on in their lives, not only will I be enveloped with love by my parents, but I will get to see Wicked in S.F., I will get to go to an A's game, I will get to see The Time Traveller's Wife (oh, Eric Bana you are so hot), I will get to visit Mrs. V, I will get to go to my home ward (twice!) I am just SO LUCKY!
Can't wait.

But still. In the depths of my mind, there are gloomy worries. What will I do without any structure? How will I react to being in the setting that so much despairing time passed at one point? My somewhat bleak perspective is that any, however small, positive changes I have made for myself will end up shattered and I will once again be at the start. It would not be so bad if it just affected me. However, it affects my parents. My siblings. All of our relationships.

I just want to keep busy and have fun next week and not worry about that.

On Home...

I am going home on Thursday. Will update more about that tomorrow. Just wanted to throw that out there!

Balderdash, Bowling, and Basking...

in the sun while cloud watching. Ah, life is amazing. Short recap of this weekend: Four wheeling. Picnic. Cloud Watching. Talking, laughing helping. OMGOSH it was SOOO funny: After four wheeling at Yankee Meadows, B-rad and I decided to go to Parowan and lay a blanket out and cloud watch. (Was my idea, p.s.). As we get out of his ah-sum truck, we hear this old guy across the street yelling for help! I was like, B-rad, let's go help him out. His electronic wheelchair had gotten stuck in the dirt and B-rad saved the day and pushed him out! Apparently that man had been stuck for 1.5 hrs, but it only took us a few minutes to help him. We were freaking CRACKING UP about it as we cloud watched...I dunno, is that mean? That poor guy all helpless...but we were definitely happy to have helped him!!

Got home at 4:30 p.m., showered, beautified, Pastry Pub'd (B-rad had never been there so I took 'im). Fireproofed/massaged. BOWLED with L.C. and Ryan. Bowling was way fun. Ain't better days made than the one I had on Saturday.

Sunday: I woke up early to prepare my talk because I had had literally no time the whole past week. Walked in 5 minutes late :-( It's okay though, I looked amazing at least. And that is saying something coming from myself! I am my own worst critic! My talk on prayer went really, really well. Many people came up to me after the meeting telling me how great it was. I used this poem in it, and I couldn't make it through without crying. After the block, one girl came up and told me about her nonmember friend who listened to my talk and afterwards remarked that it was like, the best thing he had ever heard. I felt so blessed and touched. It is things like that that remind me how much love the Lord has for me.

After church, went and helped B-rad's mom prep dinner. B-rad and I read, "You Are Special" and I cried and he almost cried also. Then we began to read Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, because I told him of my desires to read to my children all the time when I am a mother. We are going to switch off who reads aloud between chapters. It will be really good because those books are so symbolic and analogous to the Gospel.

Fireside last night. Kindof awk. because the guy talked about marriage and was like, "don't give backrubs bla bla bla" Dude. B-rad and I have been so good, don't make us feel guilty for nothing we did. Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong with backrubs. >:O

Played Balderdash last night at The Big Fun House. I came in 2nd to last. Lol, that game is hard, but now that I know some strategy I think I'd do better. After we all played, the Boys went and played R.B. and the Girls went and chatted it up about all the Drama.

So, there is a girl that is madly in love with B-rad. She didn't even stay in Sunday School yesterday because he and I were sitting with each other. She is pretty fragile. But anyway, there is just drama with her and jacob and ryan (two of B-rad's good friends). And then David (I saw Henry V with) was all touching my elbow and sat next to me and totally shut B-rad down last night. Frankly, the competition is hilarious to watch, in my opinion. But the convo was SOOOOOOO great; I love Deb and R-Stah now!

Saw J this morning. :D Made some goals. 875. No sca. Mom myself. Those are code words for my goals I am so trickyyyyyy. I recapped the past couple weeks for her...I can't believe how much has happened in such a short time. Love talking to J. A lot. A lot. A lot. You get the picture.

My Children Will Be Named:
Elle/Ellie
Grace/Gracie
Jane/Janey
Claire

Harris
Clark
Rockstar (lol, maybe not. but i will call all my boys my rockstars. and their hair will be done in faux-hawks)
Tagg. or Moses. or Noah.

Those are my favorite names today. :-D

It is interesting...

writing a blog. Because you never really know who is reading it. I know my sisters/mom/other people read it when I adamantly demand that they do, but I've gotten a few comments on facebook about some other friends reading it and it was a pleasant little surprise! However, that being said, it also makes me wonder how much to share! Obviously if only people read it that I know are reading it, I can write just about anything I want to share with that audience. But I think I am just going to be open. :-)

Last night was so so so so fun. Went to bed at 2 a.m., woke up at 7:25 (after hitting snooze twice), and babysat from 8:30-10:30. So you can see I may be somewhat petered out, but I will continue nonetheless (I know, you are just dying for me to continue ;-) ) ANYWAY, so yes, Wednesday night=movie night at The Big Fun House. We watched Dial M for Murder (a classic Alfred Hitchcock film). I really enjoyed it! I love watching old classic movies, especially with great friends. Brady got there during intermission. Mmmmm :) When the movie ended, everyone chatted for awhile and it was almost midnight so I decided to head home.

Brady walked me to Car.
But the most fun part of the night was when we were outside, we had a little tiff. We were both like, shouting and laughing at each other and wrestling and I was basically hanging on him and at one point he pretty much dropped me and my knee hurts! and I told him I was going to kick him in the privates but he said I would never do that and I didn't but I did bite his shoulder at one point I think and I climbed on him and yelled some more and probably all the neighbors were wondering what the heck was going on but we were yelling and laughing at each other the whole time and it was really fun the end.

:-D

It Is Nice....

1) It is nice that the C City Public Library has a grace period of 10 days. But doesn't that defeat the purpose of a "due date?"
2) It is nice that I went to lunch with B-rad today.
3) It is nice that my lab is over.
4) It is nice to have good parents that take care of me.
5) It is nice to have such beautiful weather.
6) It is nice that tonight is Wednesday= movie night at the Big Fun House! (last time we watched Bandits...)
7) It is nice that this morning babysitting the lil uns' went fantastically and Carter made me a bracelet!! SOOO CUTE!
8) It is nice that I am going home in so soon.
9) It is nice that I love my Saab-y :-)
10) It is nice that my office is not an icebox today!

It is not nice....
1) That two weeks is a long time to go without talking to J!
2) That a certain number is lower than it should be!
3) That this whole dating thing is really catching up to me, and I am pretty wiped out today. Nap after work? I dunno! I hate it, cause i really need to especially if we are staying out late tonight and I have to babysit at 8:30 tomorrow morning. Hmmm :-/ Advice?

Life is SO GOOD!

Oh me oh my, where do I begin!? I have not been this happy in a long time!!! Everything in life is amazing. Seriously. I was never one for sappy love stories or butterflies in my tummy or even believing that those kinds of feelings were really, truly out there. I was always one who was skeptical of girls imparting their experiences and thinking, "How lame, insincere, and just plain sappy."

But alas, it has happened to me. I never thought it would. Ever. And now all I can say is, it is AMAZING and EVERY girl should have the opportunity to feel this way. Let me give you a rundown of the past few days:

Like I said in my previous post, B-rad and I drove up to Salt Lake City on Thursday afternoon. He picked me up from work at about 3:30 p.m. and off we were. We had the BEST time EVER! We sang our hearts out to Backstreet Boys (more on his singing later!). We talked about important things, like how we feel about interpersonal communication styles and we talked about the book "The Five Languages of Love." Wonderfully enough, we both have the same primary love language. And trust me, it works out ;-) But we really had the most amazing conversation on the way up. Anyway, so we get to the reception and it was fun! It was fun hearing him speak German and meet his mission companions, and there was lots of yummy fruit! The reception was really nice. Thereafter, we skiddadled on over to Temple Square where we picked my momma up from a music conference event and then we all went to Spoon Me! :-) and B-rad and my momma chatted and then we dropped her off and started the drive back to C. City from the SLC. Again, the drive was amazing.
B-rad SANG TO ME. ACAPELLA. Can you say heart melt?

K. So we got back Friday morning at 3 a.m. Next day at work, he comes and visits me. What did I do after work that day? I am trying to remember. But I can't? Hmm! Weird. But when he got off work at 11:30 we hung out and watched Dan in Real Life and *sigh* he brought me back home around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Don't stop reading yet! So that was The First Kiss. Oh, it was beautiful. It was Perfect.

At this point, you can see how I would be slightly sleep deprived. Usually, if I feel tired even a smidge I will politely reject any social invitations. But, no. 7:15 a.m., Saturday morning. B-rad picks me up (he had to wait a few minutes, I needed to brush los dientes), and we head up to Provo with his parents and older brother Hank. This was the first opportunity I had had to meet the 'rents, and they are fantastic! His mom is the loveliest little lady and his dad I can tell has lived a fun life! So, anyway, Provo was way fun. While they took family pictures, I got to spend some time with Justine and we walked around the park and talked :) Promptly thereafter, we had to leave because B-rad had to work at 3:30 and I had to babysit from 4-8. So then we each did our individual things (babysitting went splendidly, of course...told the kids a made-up story about a snail named Murphy who was a ping-pong player), B-rad and I hung out again! We went over to his good friend Riley's house. Riley is married, and Amber and I get along really great! We watched Les Mis, even though I was falling asleep kinda at the end. But I LOOOOVE that movie, and I love that B-rad loves it, too, and he loves all musicals :-)

Sunday: Church at 11, he picked me up. We both shared our testimonies in Sacrament meeting because on our lengthy drives, we had discussed quite a few gospel concepts, which is such a great way to prepare to bear one's testimony. I don't know if people thought it was sappy or not that we were like, sitting next to eachother and rubbing eachother's backs and we got up almost in succession (he went before the person before me). I felt like it felt perfect, sitting next to him in church with his arm around me. We laughed together during the hymns. We whispered. Everything about it is wonderful. After church, we had dinner with his family. Fireside that night. Same deal-- laughing, talking. That night we went over to his sister Tiffani's house and played Uno Attack. I won one! Then, they went to watch The Next Food Network Star and we went again to Riley's house and Amber and I made blondies and then we watched Brian Reagan.

Oh oh oh! But do not forget! Before we went to Riley's, we went on a short walk up Northfield Rd (because Riley and Tiffany both live in apts along there), and we went on swings and B-rad put his hands on my hips and kissed me and told me he really wanted to be exclusive. Hmm. Ok, obviously I said yes. He took me home at midnight.

Yesterday, (Monday), he was worked closing and I was planning on going to a baseball game with some friends from the ward (which was EXTREMELY FUN!) but before Heather, Kaelee, B-Hen, Johnny and I headed to St. G, I left B-rad a note and some Starbursts in his truck :-) Upon his discovery of candy and note, I recieved the following text (ok, try not to gag):

"I have the most amazing, fun, good looking, positive, friendly, sweet, thoughtful, outstanding, nice, loving, incredibly girlfriend ever!!!!" (exclamation marks were also included)

*Sigh* So then, of course, we couldn't go a day without seeing eachother, so got back from the game at 11:30 p.m. (The RoadRunners won!!) and then he picked me up on his moped at 11:45. We talked. We planned.

We have a million fun things to do planned. He brings out the best in me. He compliments me like, on everything. We have so much fun. Oh, last night he also sang to me :-) Every girl deserves this.